Latest news with #TawandaMuyeye
Times
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Times
Tawanda Muyeye: asylum seeker from Zimbabwe and on England's radar
Tawanda Muyeye left the country of his birth aged 17 with his mother and younger brother, seeking asylum in the UK after political unrest and economic turmoil made life in Zimbabwe increasingly precarious. Seven years on, he is dreaming of playing international cricket for England. The talented young opening batsman is making his mark in county cricket for Kent and the Hundred with Oval Invincibles. Although there haven't yet been any formal conversations with the England management, they are clearly keeping an eye on him and have made inquiries about his plans to get permanent leave to remain in this country. Muyeye, 24, will have fulfilled the four -year residency requirements to allow him to play for England in early 2027. Muyeye is an impressive, articulate young man — and he makes no bones about his ambitions. 'I want to play international cricket. That is my goal and dream,' he says. But it wasn't always that way. Born in Harare, Muyeye spent his early years playing multiple sports at boarding school — rugby, hockey, athletics — and for a time, cricket almost slipped from his grasp. 'I wanted to give up cricket when I was maybe 15,' he says. 'Loads of my mates played other sports and cricket was just getting a bit boring for me.' That might have been the end of his cricketing story had it not been for his school coach Ian Tinker, who pushed him into Zimbabwe's under-19 setup and 'reignited the flame'. But his family's life in Zimbabwe was becoming untenable. Political instability and limited opportunities pushed them to seek a new start in England. 'England has been good to us — my family and myself,' he says. 'I don't think there's any better place in the world to be than London in the summer.' At 17, he enrolled at Eastbourne College, where his cricket blossomed. He was named Wisden's schools cricketer of the year in 2020 and attracted the attention of counties, making his first-class debut for Kent in 2021. He credits Paul Downton, then Kent's director of cricket, for a decisive role in his career. 'I always say that I owe so much to him and to Kent,' Muyeye says. 'When someone backs you and gives you that clarity, you obviously want to repay them.' That loyalty is part of why he recently signed a contract extension with Kent despite attention from a number of other counties. 'I didn't want to leave just as I was starting to show what I'm capable of,' he says. 'I feel like I'm starting to know myself a bit better, there's still room for improvement but I am just starting to show Kent what I can do.' There was never any question about Muyeye's natural talent but this has been something of a breakout year for him. He has scored more than 1,100 runs across all formats for Kent this season including being the second-highest runscorer in the T20 Blast this summer, as well as accruing 616 County Championship runs. In the Hundred he has scored 124 runs in five matches with one fifty. Tom Moody, the head coach of the Oval Invincibles, has made it clear he sees Muyeye as a first-choice opener to partner England batsman Will Jacks having been mostly just a back-up batsman last summer, a gesture the youngster doesn't take lightly. 'Any time a coach backs you, it gives you confidence and allows you to be yourself,' he says. 'The backing I've gotten here has been second to none.' He contrasts this with his first two seasons in the competition, when he played only five matches in total across both years. 'I was kind of a stopgap when someone was injured. But I never got frustrated — every time I walked away, I felt like a better player.' His standout performance for the Invincibles came on August 9 in their nine-wicket thrashing of Manchester Originals in which he battered 59 off 28 balls to set up the win. The experience has given him a taste of what it is like on the big stage — interviews, autograph requests, big crowds. 'That was so different for me. It almost felt like the spotlight was on you — it was a bit weird,' he says. 'But it was good fun. There are only a few of us in the squad who haven't played international cricket, so the people you are playing and training with every day, you have no choice but to get better and to get towards their level. 'This [The Hundred] is the closest I can get to international cricket at the moment for obvious reasons. I am using it to try to improve my game so that when other opportunities arise, I can take them.' Muyeye speaks with the poise of someone who has had to grow up quickly — he is articulate, thoughtful and grounded in a deep gratitude for the opportunities he has been granted. Immigration paperwork remains a practical hurdle but he is hoping to secure permanent leave to remain in the UK soon and then wants to play some franchise cricket overseas during the winter. 'The end goal is to try to play international cricket,' he says. 'I want to expose myself to as much cricket as possible, in as many conditions as possible.' For all his success in white-ball cricket this summer, Muyeye's heart lies in the longer form. 'I love four-day cricket, but it drives me insane sometimes,' he says with a laugh. 'I want to play Test cricket. That's the hardest cricket you can play. If you can get through that, you can get through anything.' He relishes the grind: 'If you get a hundred off 200 balls, the comfort you feel — it tests you mentally, physically, everything.' There is a clear approach to his batting combining classic techniques entrenched from his youth with smooth, attacking strokeplay — backed up by bright mind, and resilience forged through the changes and challenges of uprooting to a new country. He is already forging a clear path in English cricket. The next steps — in county whites, franchise colours, and perhaps one day wearing the England badge — will no doubt be taken with the same steely conviction.
The Independent
09-08-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Oval Invincibles claim crushing nine-wicket victory over Manchester Originals
Will Jacks and Tawanda Muyeye shared an opening partnership of 114 as Oval Invincibles continued their Hundred title defence with a crushing nine-wicket victory over Manchester Originals. Jacks smashed 61 off 26 balls, while Muyeye ended unbeaten on 59 from 28 deliveries as the Invincibles won with 43 balls to spare to register a second consecutive success. After Jacks was caught by Scott Currie off the bowling of Lewis Gregory, Jordan Cox finished the job with a pull shot over backward square leg for four. In terms of balls remaining, the Originals' defeat was the joint second heaviest in the history of the men's competition. Birmingham Phoenix last year beat Northern Superchargers with 61 balls to spare. Captain Phil Salt (41) top-scored for the away side, who were all out for 128 at the Oval, with Invincibles spinner Rashid Khan taking three for 19. In the women's competition, reigning champions London Spirit claimed a dramatic two-run win over Welsh Fire in a rematch of the 2024 final. Fire required seven runs from the last five deliveries in pursuit of 125 but ended on 122 for five after Spirit bowler Grace Harris held her nerve, including having Georgia Elwiss caught by Charlie Dean on the final ball. Before stumbling with the finish line in sight, the hosts had been in control of their chase at 101 for two, with England opener Sophia Dunkley making 36 and Jess Jonassen contributing 29 at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Charli Knott struck 47 off 33 balls in Spirit's total of 124, with Fire bowlers Freya Davies and Katie Levick taking three wickets apiece. Manchester Originals held their nerve to claim a nail-biting two-run victory over Oval Invincibles. Originals captain Beth Mooney hit 70 off 45 balls in a total of 139 for six after the visitors were put into bat. The Invincibles lost just three wickets but fell short of victory, despite Meg Lanning's 56 and 33 from fellow opener Lauren Winfield-Hill.
BBC News
09-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Imperious Invincibles crush Originals
The Hundred men's competition, The OvalManchester Originals 128 all out (100 balls): Salt 41 (32); Rashid 3-19Oval Invincibles 129-1 (57 balls): Jacks 61 (26), Muyeye 59* (28)Invincibles won by nine wicketsScorecard. Table Will Jacks and Tawanda Muyeye shared a blistering 114-run stand as defending champions Oval Invincibles inflicted a nine-wicket thrashing on Manchester Originals in The skittled the visitors for 128 at The Kia Oval, Invincibles bludgeoned their way to victory from 57 balls - the joint second-fastest win in the men's competition in terms of deliveries remaining - to maintain their perfect start to the finished unbeaten on 59 from 28 balls, while Jacks fell for 61 from 26 with just 15 required for leg-spinner Rashid Khan was the pick of the Invincibles bowlers, taking 3-19, while fast bowler Saqib Mahmood also impressed with being put in to bat, Originals were in trouble early, with opener Matty Hurst and England star Jos Buttler both dismissed without Phil Salt smashed three sixes in his 41 from 32 balls and put on 50 with New Zealand's Mark Chapman to give the away side hope before both fell to the irresistible wickets kept tumbling and matters only got worse for the Originals with the ball as Jacks and Muyeye went to was responsible for 21 of the 25 runs taken from Jimmy Anderson's first 10 balls but the England legend was not alone in going the bowler was under threat as Jacks made the early running, hitting 10 fours and two sixes in total, before Muyeye joined the party and briefly overtook his opening was 24-year-old Muyeye who reached his half-century first, from 22 balls - a delivery quicker than Jacks - and he was there at the end as a Jordan Cox boundary put the winless Originals out of their misery. What is happening on Sunday? It's another four-game day on Sunday with double-headers in Southampton and starts at the Ageas Bowl with Southern Brave against Birmingham Phoenix (11:00/14:30 BST) before Trent Rockets face Northern Superchargers (14:30/ 18:00 BST) at Trent can follow ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Muyeye signs new Kent contract through 2027
Batter Tawanda Muyeye has signed a new two-year contract with Kent to keep him at the club until at least the end of the 2027 24-year-old has made more than 100 appearances for the club since his debut in 2021, scoring more than 3,500 is the second highest run-scorer in the T20 Blast so far in 2025, with 516 in 14 matches, and hit his first career T20 century against Essex earlier in July."Ever since I arrived here, I've been so grateful for the support that my teammates, coaches and the Kent supporters have given me," Muyeye said."I'm determined to continue to develop as a player in a Kent shirt and put in more match-winning performances." The right-handed batter was born in Zimbabwe but was granted the right to remain in the UK before signing his first deal with Kent and has stated his desire to play for England one has also scored 570 red-ball runs in County Championship Division Two this season, including a century and four director of cricket Simon Cook said Muyeye was an "outstanding talent" and his contract includes the option of a further year beyond 2027. "[He has] the mindset and work ethic that aligns with where we are going as a club," he said."His commitment to continuous improvement and desire to compete at the highest level will be a significant asset to the club going forward."
BBC News
22-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Kent and rain spoil Anderson's start as captain
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, Stanley Park, Blackpool (day one)Kent: Compton 86*, Muyeye 63; Balderson 2-37Lancashire: Yet to batKent 0pts, Lancashire 1ptMatch scorecard James Anderson's first day as Lancashire's interim skipper was spoiled by Ben Compton and the rain as Kent dominated the first day of the County Championship match in lost the toss, the visitors were 213-3 when heavy showers caused play to be abandoned shortly after the scheduled tea that point, Compton was 86 not out and his 126-run stand with Tawanda Muyeye, who made 63, had been the centrepiece of the day. Anderson, on the other hand, might have been regretting his decision to insert Kent on what looks a true in the first few overs of the day, the signs were not promising for Lancashire. Opening in place of Zak Crawley, Jaydn Denly batted with pleasant ease to put on 55 with Compton in exactly an hour before he top-edged a sweep off the spinner, Chris Green, and was well caught at deep square-leg by Mitchell Stanley for Bell-Drummond then made 13 before he edged George Balderson behind, where Matty Hurst took a good catch standing up to the stumps. However, Compton and Muyeye took their side safely to lunch, when Kent were probably reasonably content to be 105-2 after 33 then prevented play for 90 minutes but Compton reached his half-century only four overs after the restart when he drove Anderson through mid-on for two. The Kent opener had faced 100 balls and had hit six fours to reach a landmark that also prompted a marked acceleration in the run and Muyeye extended their third-wicket partnership to a hundred in only 19.5 overs although Lancashire had only themselves to blame for dropping Compton on 54, Jennings putting down a straightforward slip catch off in a most enterprising fashion, Muyeye reached his own fifty off 66 balls and made light of the cloudy conditions that should have aided Anderson's seam Lancashire got the breakthrough they needed in the penultimate over before tea, when Muyeye, having made 63, sought to hit Balderson down the ground but only skied the ball to cover, where Stanley took his second catch of the ended Muyeye's 126-run stand with Compton and as things turned out, the wicket fell 10 balls before rain forced the players off a couple of deliveries before the scheduled tea David Millns and Sue Redfern abandoned play at 17:20 BST with Compton 14 runs short of his fourth first-class century of the season and Jack Leaning unbeaten on was the most successful Lancashire bowler with 2-37. Anderson bowled nine wicketless overs for 36 came into this match between the bottom two sides in Division Two four points ahead of their opponents and as the only first-class county yet to record a Championship win this season. If the weather forecast is anything like accurate, they will have done well to change that situation come Wednesday supplied by the ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay
